Go Take the 2022 Global Drug Survey

At the end of every year the Global Drug Survey opens up, inviting people from around the world to take part in the world’s biggest anonymous drug survey.

Since its inaugural run in 2014, the survey data has revealed information about new substance use trends, helping to guide the development of saner drug policies and distributing up-to-date harm reduction tips and techniques.

In addition to asking the usual questions, this year the Global Drug Survey is focusing on a few new topics: how drug laws impact drug users, mixing tobacco with cannabis, no- and low-alcohol drinks, sex and psychedelics, drink spiking, and illicit tobacco.

If you’ve taken drugs this year then you should fill out this survey. It can take a while to complete, especially if you’ve used a wide variety of substances, but the data will contribute to a better understanding of how the world uses drugs and educate people on how to use them in the safest possible way. On average, it takes roughly 20 minutes to finish the survey but it took me about 45 minutes this year.

Time is quickly running out so you better jump on it fast if you want to participate because the submission period ends on December 31st. And stay tuned—the survey results are expected to come out in May 2022.

Virginia Lawmakers Vote to Legalize Marijuana in 2024

About a month ago I published a blog post claiming that “Virginia’s legalization bill is one step away from becoming a law, and Governor Ralph Northam is expected to sign it, which would make the state the first in the South to legalize weed. That’d be a big deal.”

It turns out that I was a bit off in my assessment—Virginia’s House and Senate actually approved two separate bills, not the same one. However, now the state’s lawmakers have officially passed one singular bill that will legalize cannabis in 2024.

Denis Lavoie and Sarah Rankin, writing for TIME:

Virginia lawmakers gave final approval Saturday to a bill that will legalize marijuana for adult recreational use, but not until 2024, when retail sales of the drug would also begin.

With a compromise bill clearing the House and Senate, Virginia becomes the first Southern state to vote to legalize marijuana, joining 15 other states and the District of Columbia. The legislation now goes to Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam, who supports legalization.

So even though I got this one wrong back in February, now it’s actually time to give Virginia, which just happens to be the state directly north of me, a big round of applause.

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Study Finds Benefits of Microdosing LSD Might Be Placebo Effect

Ian Sample, writing for The Guardian:

It became the trend in Silicon Valley and spread swiftly around the world: the latest hack to boost the mood, sharpen the mind and get the creative juices flowing.

But for all the entrepreneurs and tech gurus that flocked to the practice, scientists have never been sure whether consuming small doses of LSD has the benefits its advocates claim.

Much of the problem is down to the law. Without easy access to the schedule 1 drug, researchers have struggled to run clinical trials. In their absence, most evidence is anecdotal. And as scientists are all too happy to stress, the plural of anecdote is not data.

Now researchers at Imperial College London have made progress on the question. In the largest placebo-controlled trial into psychedelics to date, they found that small doses of LSD indeed boosted the psychology in all manner of ways.

That was only half of the results, however. When the researchers examined what trial volunteers took, they found placebos worked equally as well as the drug. In short, the uplift reported by microdosers might be nothing more than the placebo effect.

It’s great to see some research come out about microdosing, but as far as I’m concerned the debate about its efficacy is still far from resolved. After all, this is just one study. Regardless of whether there’s something inherently beneficial about microdosing itself or if it just comes down to the placebo effect, we know something is happening here.

Personally, I think there are probably benefits of microdosing that are independent from the placebo effect, but I’m not completely sold on that idea and will reserve my final judgment for when we have a more solid body of microdosing research.

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Washington State Supreme Court Finds State’s Felony Drug Possession Law Unconstitutional

Q13 Fox:

The Washington State Supreme Court has ruled that the state's felony drug possession law is unconstitutional.

Immediately following the ruling, Seattle Police announced they would no longer be arresting people for simple drug possession, and they won't confiscate drugs under the statute. Other agencies quickly followed suit.

The law made possession of a controlled substance a felony punishable by up to five years in prison, plus a hefty fine.

In its ruling released Thursday, the high court said the law serves to "criminalize innocent and passive possession" because it is a "strict liability" law, meaning prosecutors don't need to prove intent.

The ruling strikes down RCW 69.50.4013 Section 1. Without that section, there is essentially no state law on simple drug possession.

Former U.S. Attorney John McKay called the decision "remarkable."

Remarkable indeed.

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More Drug Policy Reform Bills Pass Committee

Several drug policy reform bills passed committee last week. This week the initiatives in Minnesota and New Mexico both passed their second rounds and will definitely be heading to each state’s House for further consideration.

Virginia’s lawmakers are facing a Saturday deadline to reconcile conflicting House and Senate cannabis legalization bills and things are tense.

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